We are still developing this section and will soon be able to provide you with further info but for now here is some general info:

ECOTOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE STUFF

We are not yet claiming to be an ecotour operator as there is so much misuse of the term and we don't currently meet all the criteria but we are getting there. At the moment a better description would be 'nature and culture based tourism'. The IUCN and Nature Conservancy use the following definition for ecotourism:

"Environmentally responsible travel to natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promote conservation, have a low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local peoples."· Conscientious, low-impact visitor behavior · Sensitivity towards, and appreciation of, local cultures and biodiversity · Support for local conservation efforts · Sustainable benefits to local communities · Local participation in decision-making · Educational components for both the traveller and local communities

There is a recycling system up river in Bukit Lawang so please use the bins provided along the way. If it’s not clear ask us. Try and refill your water bottles rather than buying new ones, there are a few guest houses that offer this service. We encourage our guests to bring environmentally friendly products but this is an area we need to work on. We hope to be able to source all the ingredients for making our own soaps and cleaning products so perhaps in the future you could learn how to make soap too!(If you're UK based check out the courses here www.rubyredcosmetics.co.uk).

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Green Hill is managed and staffed by Indonesian locals and it is more like an extended family. All our trek providers, assistants, camp cooks etc are Indonesian as are our transport providers. There are no services at Green Hill that are provided by non-local people. We also have two community projects in the remote villages ....drop us an email for further info and maybe you can come along and help.